Temporary housing 'harming families' health'

Record levels of temporary housing are leading to more sickness among homeless families, a new report warned today.

The study, by housing charity Shelter, found that 58% of homeless households believed their families health had suffered as a result of living in temporary accommodation.

The research, which involved interviewing 194 homeless families, also found:· 21% of children living in temporary homes were suffering from depression· 45% of families said they had visited a doctor more frequently since they had moved to a temporary home· More than half of the people interviewed said they were depressed, and of those 63% said their depression had worsened since moving into temporary housing· 60% of those suffering from asthma or other breathing problems said their condition had got worse

"The unsettled and unsuitable nature of temporary accommodation exacerbates depression, stress and anxiety," the research concluded.

The survey comes at a time when the number of families placed in temporary accommodation is at record levels and is set to top 100,000 this year.

Shelter is calling for a national strategy for temporary housing to give more support for those living in temporary homes, and measures to reduce the need for this form of accommodation in the long-term.

The study found that families in temporary homes tended to be given inadequate support by local authorities. They were rarely given progress reports on the application for permanent homes or notice about moving, it revealed.

One mother interviewed said her autistic son was forced to miss a year of school after being moved from one London borough to another.

The report recommended that temporary housing should be banned for families unless a council had made a full assessment of the support needs of those in the household.

It also criticised the government for overlooking the role of housing in the children bill. "The bill fails to sufficiently consider the impacts on children's health and education arising from poor housing conditions, including temporary accommodation," it said.

Other recommendations included:· Funding for specialist children's support workers to help families in temporary homes· New mobile Sure Start services targeted at homeless families· Measures to increase the supply of permanent homes, including grants for councils and housing associations to buy homes on the open market

Ben Jackson, Shelter's director of communication and campaigns, said: "The government must commit to end bad housing for the next generation of children or else thousands of families will be condemned to a life of misery in temporary housing."

Commenting on the report Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the British Medical Association's head of science and ethics, said: "Recognition of the link between poor housing and ill health started in the 1800s so it is appalling that in the 21st century organisations like Shelter and the BMA are still raising concerns about the issue."